Top



sept. z5, 1923.. 1,469,151

E. E. BARTRAM TOP Filed Sept. 16 1921 l atented Sept, 25, i923.

' narran erases' nnwaan E. nan'inaia, or Los ANGELES, estresante.

f '.ror.

application filcd'Septeinber 16,1921. Serial No. 501,0-50.

geles and State oi California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in.

Tops, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to educational devices especially adapted for use by children Aalthough not necessarily restricted to such use.

in important object oi this invention is to provide an educational device in the nature of a'pair of tops Vhaving a plurality of `numbered faces, the numbered i'ace of one `numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustratingl the enacting tops in use. Y

Y Figure 2 is an end elevation of one of the tops. Y

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modiiied form of top.

Figure all is a plan view or a numbering strip adapted for use in connection with the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown several preferred embodiments of the invention, the numerals 5 and 6 designate similarly constructed tops which are adapted yto coact when the saine is played.

Each top consists oli a substantially cylindrical body having its 'forward portion of cone-shaped Jformationas indicated at 7 and having its rear end provided with a reduced axially arranged spindle 8 by means of which the same may be manually rotated, When setting'one of the tops in operation it is gripped between two of the ngers and is given a quick turn se that when the tops alight on the table 10 the same will continue' 'i to rotate; .1 V Y, Y

Each cylindrical body is provided with a plurality oi indicatingfaces 11 termed by providing longitudinal grooves in the outer -side oi' the body. The grooves 11 which eX- tendl completely about the cylindrical body are somewhat shallow and arecurved trans versely so aste provide an annular seriesoi' ribs 12. It will be seen that the ribs 12 which have their outer edges tapered space the bottom wall or the groove 11 from contact with the table and thereby prevent the numbers or characters inscribed on the walls of the grooves from becoming worn as the result of continued use of the top. In other words, the numbers 'which range from 1 to 12V on the faces 'of the top are arranged inwardly of the beveled or ltapered. ribs .'12 and are protected by the said ribs.

A, further :function of the ribs 12 is to prevent the top from rolline'tco freely after assuming a horizontal position Vas the result of its ceasing to spin upon its pointed'fend. ln otherwords the top stops more readily .when provided'with the ribs than it would. if it were provided' only with an annular series or" flat faces, the edges oi which would soon become worn;

As illustrated in Figure l the grooved faces 11 of the body 6 are provided with numbers behind which multiplication synibols are applied. On the other hand the top 10 is provided on its grooved laces with numbers ranging from 1 to 12 and behind these numbers is applied an annular series of equality symbols. lt is thus .seen that when the two tops cease to rotate the upper faces of the same will read for example 5 10::5(). The players take turns in spinning` the pairs of tops and when each player has had ten turns the tot-al ofV each play is added A and the one attaining the highest score wins the game'.

As indicated in Figure. 3 the top' which is generally designated by the numeral 15 is provided with abody having a plurality of grooved faces 16 and the said grooved faces may be providedv with a strip 17 having numbers ranging from 1 to 12. The strip 17 may bepasted or otherwise secured to the body 15.` l y The strip 2O illustrated in Figure 4i 'may numbers appearing on top be provided With numbers ranging from l to- 12 and may if desired be provided with addition symbols to take the place of tliel added instead of multiplied` Having thus describedthe invention what l. A combined amusement kand 'educa- Itional device comprising a pair of topsahaving longitudinally grooved facesandconeshaped forward ends, tlie-.grooved faces of of the top are.

each top having numbers and symbols7 the symbols acting to establish a connection and relation /betvveen the numbers on the two tops. n 2; A combined amusement and4 educational device comprising a plurality of members each having a vplurality of faces and a spinning end, respective faces of said mem# bers having both knumbers and symbols, the

symbols acting to establish a. connection and relation betWeen-thenumbers which are on the faces of said kmembers with said sym bols, so as to display@mathematicalexpres-'- sions. f

EDWARD n. BARTRAM; 

